Not prepared: Modern children don't know basic scouting techniques including tying knots and building fires

Basic scouting skills, such as tying reef knots and repairing a flat bicylce tyre are dying out among children, according to a survey.

Just one in five youngsters said they could tie the simple knot and it was a similar story for repairing a puncture.

Look what we built: Scouts from around the world sit on an impressive gateway they built during the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden this year

...And this too: The scouts pick their way over their 'Pioneered adventure course. A poll found a disturbing number of children now lack basic scouting skills

Definitely good at knots: Chief Scout Bear Grylls said pracitcal skills help youngsters 'prepare for whatever life throws at them'

Even fewer said they could identify a star constellation using a telescope, while nearly a quarter polled said they wouldn't have the first clue how to make and fly a kite.

Basic tasks such as putting up a tent and even cooking a meal were out for around half of those polled by the Scout Association.

Half claimed to be able to use a compass, four out of 10 said they couldn't read a map and 38 per cent said they didn't know basic first aid.

However, it might be worse than first thought as when asked the same questions the youngsters' parents were sceptical over their offsprings' answers.

Around one in 10 said their child actually had the skills stated.

And most parents went so far as to suggest their children had far fewer practical skills than was admitted in the survey.

Nearly four fifths of adults surveyed said children lacked the skills they had at the same age.

However, it wasn't all bad news.The poll also found the children asked were far more confident when it came to computers.

SCOUT HOW TO: THE REEF KNOT

This most common knot is used to tie together two working ends of the same material and size.

Take an end of rope in each hand and lay the left hand end over the right.

Then, using your right hand, take the end from the left down behind the other rope and up to the front again.

Point the ends inwards again, this time the right hand one over the other one, then take it down behind it and up to the front through the loop which has now been formed.

Pull the knot tight. (This knot is often remembered by the rule 'left over right and right over left'.)

Source: The Scout Association

Eighty-four per cent said they could send an email while 60 per cent said they could browse the internet on their mobile phones.

Fifty-nine per cent could download music and 56 per cent were able to update their status on social networking sites.

The YouGov poll, which asked girls and boys aged eight to 15, was conducted ahead of a revamp to the Scouts' Pioneer badge.

SCOUT HOW TO: HOW TO LIGHT A FIRE SAFELY

If the landowner gives permission, lift enough turf to give a patch of bare ground for your fire. Usually, a 1 metre square x 10cm thick area will suffice. If the turf is to be kept for more than a day, turn it upside down and keep it well watered.

Collect plenty of wood of different sizes.

Stand the first twig upright in the ground.

Surround it with tinder or punk.

Start to a wigwam shape by surrounding this with kindling.

Use progressively thicker twigs, expanding this shape and leaving a gap at the bottom for your match to reach the tinder or punk.

Light your match, shielding the flame in your hand and getting as near as possible to the fire.

Light the tinder or punk and any small pieces of kindling.

Add more twigs as necessary to each flame until it spreads to thicker wood.

If you need to blow the fire, get in close and blow gently. Ideally blow towards any prevailing wind.

Once alight, add larger and larger twigs and sticks. Then add a few pieces of wood at one end so that they catch light. When these are well alight, add more wood to the other end.

When it is firmly established, and the wigwam shape has been abandoned, lay bricks or thick logs parallel with the wind direction on either side of the fire.

If you intend to cook, you will have to wait until there are hot embers as this is where the heat is retained.

Source: The Scout Association

The badge is one of the association's oldest awards, inspired by military engineers who went ahead of the Army on foot to build bridges and construct roads.

When trying for the badge, which is
being relaunched in partnership with the Discovery Channel, scouts learn
knots, blocks, lashings and anchors to build things like stretchers and
bridges.

Chief Scout,
Bear Grylls, said: 'Practical skills are at the heart of scouting. From
first aid to cooking a meal, we encourage all young people to learn
skills they can use in life.

SCOUT HOW TO: TIE A SQUARE LASHING

It is very easy to do lashings - it is even easier to do them badly! The secret is to make them as tidy as possible and as tight as possible.

The only knots which are required to make the lashings described here are the timber hitch, clove hitch and reef knot. All of these arerelatively easy to learn.

Begin with a clove hitch underneath the spar to be supported. (a)

Wrap the rope first over one spar, then under the other, pulling tight all the time. (b)

On the second time round, go inside the previous turn of rope on top, but outside underneath the spars. (c)

After three turns, apply two frapping turns, which pull on the rope turns already made, making them even tighter. (d)

Finish off with a clove hitch. (e)

Source: The Scout Association

'While learning together, girls and boys grow in confidence and self-esteem. Having these skills helps them prepare for whatever life throws at them, enabling them to become active and responsible citizens who are willing to take a lead.'

To mark the badge’s relaunch the Scout Association has also identified a list of 14 things children should do before they reach 14.

These include going camping with friends, climbing trees, riding a sledge and identifying a species of flower, tree and creature while on a nature trail.

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Modern children don't know basic scouting techniques including tying knots and building fires